Steadier for mandrel bar and tube shell



Dec. 19, 1967 c. H. HEINE, JR I 3,358,490

STEADIER FOR MANDREL BAR AND TUBE SHELL Filed Dec. 11, 1964 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 l/V VE/VTOR CHRIST/AN H. HE/IVE, Jr.

Afro may Dec. 19, 1967 c. H. HEINE, JR

STEADIER FOR MANDREL BAR AND TUBE SHELL 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Dec. 11, 1964 w y m ME m Fl. 1 u ITL 5 w\ 6 w 7 A m fl MM. NM. QM, m MM. W 3 \mm mw m EM KM \m M v r c y x a V w Z -v// v G, LPMU. i \uq x L\ \K L l |I i \a I aw kw United States Patent C) 3,358,490 STEADIER FOR MANDREL BAR AND TUBE SHELL Christian H. Heine, In, Pittsburgh, Pa., assrguor to United States Steel Corporation, a corporation of Delaware Filed Dec. 11, 1964, Ser. No. 417,753 3 Claims. (Cl. 72-209) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE In a bar and tube steadier for a seamless-tube mill, three pivotally mounted guide rolls are swung to positions open, around the bar and around the tube, respectively, by a rack and pinions actuated by a hydraulic cylinder. Two reciprocable gage blocks limit movement of the rack, thereby positioning the rolls around the bar and around the tube, respectively.

This invention relates to a bar steadier for a seamlesstube mill and the like and particularly to an arrangement for steadying the rotating mandrel bar before the pierced shell emerges from the mill, as well as for guiding and steadying the shell with the mandrel bar therein as the shell emerges from the mill.

Seamless-tube mills of known types include a long and relatively slender mandrel bar. A billet or shell is forced over the mandrel or plug carried thereon by opposed rolls, set askew relative to each other.

An object of the invention is to provide an improved steadier for rigidly and accurately holding the mandrel bar and for guiding a shell or tube while it is being formed and particularly for holding the bar and shell coaxially in a predetermined path.

Another object of the invention is to provide an easily adjustable steadier arrangement for holding the bars and shells of various sizes and for guiding them.

In one embodiment of the invention, I provide a seamless-tube mill with a plurality of frames, each of which has a plurality of shafts journaled therein. Each shaft pivotally mounts a guide roll. The guide rolls are spaced circumferentially of the axial path or" a tube. Pinions are also mounted on the shafts. Means reciprocable on each frame are adapted to turn the pinions and to operate the guide rolls toward and away from the axial path of the tubes. 1

A complete understanding of the invention may be obtained from the following detailed description and explanation, which refer to the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a plan view of a seamless-tube mill, with parts thereof shown diagrammatically and with the steadier apparatus of invention shown in different operation positions;

FIGURE 2 is a vertical side elevation of a steadier showing the guide rolls encompassing a mandrel bar;

FIGURE 3 is a vertical sectiontaken on the line III-- III of FIGURE showing the guide rolls in open position;

FIGURE 4 is a vertical section somewhat similar to FIGURE 3 showing the guide rolls in close proximity to and surrounding a shell; 7

FIGURE 5 is a vertical section taken on the line V-V of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 6 is a horizontal section taken on the line VIVI of FIGURE 2 showing gage blocks in retracted position;

FIGURE 7 is a horizontal section taken on the line VII-VII of FIGURE 4 showing gage blocks in an operating position; and

3,358,490 Patented Dec. 19, 1967 FIGURE 8 is a fragment of FIGURE 6 showing an additional gage block and the retracted and advanced positions of the gage blocks.

Referring now in detail to the drawings, FIGURE 1 5 shows rolls 10, 11 of a seamless-tube piercing mill, with a billet 12 being fed to the pass between the rolls. As the angularly arranged rolls 10, 11 rotate, they work the metal of the billet 12 and cause it to flow over the point of a mandrel 13, removably carried on the end of a mandrel bar 14. The flowing metal of the billet 12 assumes a tubular form as a shell 15, moving over mandrel bar 14 as the billet is pierced.

The other end of mandrel bar 14 is rotatably secured in a thrust bearing in a carriage 16, reciprocable on slides or tracks 17 by means not shown. A thrust block or bridge structure 18 extends across tracks 17 over carriage 16. The bridge 18 carries a latch 19, which engages carriage 16, thereby absorbing the thrust against 'bar 14. The latch 19 is moved out of engagement with the carriage 16 just prior to retracting carriage 16 to withdraw the bar 14 from tube 15.

In a seamless-tube mill, the mandrel bar 14 must be long enough to accommodate the longest tube or shell produced on the mill. If this long bar be without support intermediate its ends, it will deflect and, on rotation, Whip and vibrate objectionably. Mandrel 13, furthermore, cannot be maintained in its proper position in the gorge between rolls 10, 11 to produce a concentric shell 15. In order to overcome these difiiculties, I have provided a plurality of steadiers 20, 21 and 22. These steadiers are similar to each other and are adapted to steady bar 14 against undesired vibration and to guide shells 15. Each steadier comprises a frame having adjustable guide rolls thereon adapted closely to engage the mandrel bar, open up when a hot tube or shell approaches or when a stripped tube is to be ejected, or guide a formed shell. Steadiers 20, 21 and 22, respectively, are shown in FIGURE 1 positioned to perform the several functions. An operator effects the sequential adjustments of the guide rolls, or means may be provided for operating the steadiers automatically. After the piercing is completed, latch 19 is disengaged, the guide rolls are opened, the bar and shell may be supported on one or more roller conveyors 23, and carriage 16 is retracted. In'this latter operation, mandrel bar 14 is stripped from shell 15, which is held against a stripper block 24. Mandrel 13 drops oil the end of bar 14 into a suitable receptacle. With bar 14 retracted, shell can be kicked off transversely of the mill outlet table by a plurality of arms 25 mounted on a shaft 26 rotated by a motor 27. Thereafter, the above-described operation may be repeated.

The operation of my improved bar steadying mechanism will now be described in greater detail. As shown in FIGURES 1 to 5, steadiers 20, 21 and 22 are spaced transversely of and adjacent to the axial path of mandrell bar 14 and shell 15 and are mounted on longitudinally spaced beams 28, 29 secured to floor pedestals 30, 31, respectively, by bolts 32. The beams have transversely spaced web plates 33 and are tied together by transversely spaced members 34. Each steadier comprises a frame 35,

A having a plurality of depending members 36 secured to beams 28, 29 by keys 37. Each frame 35 includes spaced,

transverse vertical members 38, 39.

As illustrated in FIGURES 1 to 5, three guide rolls 40,

41. and 42 are pivotally mounted on members 38, 39 and are spaced circumferentially of the axial path of mandrel bar 14 and shell 15 and are employed to engage and guide bar and shell, respectively. The rolls are mounted so that they can be moved toward and away from each other to accommodate any particular diameter workpiece. At any adjusted point, substantially the same relative distance is maintained between the rolls and the described axial path.

Also, preferably, the same relative equal angles are maintained between the rolls. A plurality of guide rolls may conveniently comprise two to four rolls inclusive, although it is preferred to use three rolls. Three shafts 43, 44 and 45 are journaled in members 38, 39, their center lines being parallel with and equally spaced from the described axial path. Shaft 43 is mounted directly above shaft 44, the two longitudinal shafts being spaced on one side of the described axial path. Longitudinal shaft 45 is spaced on the other side of said path, its center line being somewhat below that of shaft 44. A pair of arms or rockers 46 are mounted on each shaft inwardly of members 38, 39; and each pair pivotally mounts therebetween a guide roller, by conventional shaft and bearing means, not shown. Pairs of pinion segments are mounted concentrically on each shaft outwardly of members 38, 39. Single-pinion segments 47 generally depend from shaft 43 and mesh with dual-pinion segments 48, mounted on shaft 44. Single-pinion segments 49 generally depend from shaft 45. As shown in FIGURE 5, washers 50 and nuts 51 secure the respective pinion segments on the respective shafts in rotatable engagement with bearing members 52 that also serve to journal the respective shafts in vertical members 38, 39 and against which arms 46 also rotate.

Each of a pair of transversely spaced ways 53 in frame 35 has mounted thereon for reciprocating movement a rack 54. A yoke 55 joins racks 54 at their inner ends and has attached centrally thereof a piston 56 of a hydraulic motor 57, whereby the racks may be reciprocated. Hydraulic motors 57 on steadiers 20, 21 and 22 may be operated manually or automatically by the usual, known means and controls, not shown. Teeth 58 on racks 54 mesh with dual-pinion segments 48. Teeth 59 mesh wtih single-pinion segments 49. Teeth 59 are spaced forwardly of teeth 58 and are positioned in a horizontal plane somewhat below that of teeth 58 because of the difference in centerline elevations of shafts 44 and 45. Otherwise, teeth 58 and 59 are the same, as are the lengths of arms 46 and the effective diameters of the respective pinions, to assure uniform angular movement of the respective guide rollswith any movement of racks 54.

As shown in FIGURE 2 and at steadier 20 in FIGURE 1, racks 54 may be advanced by motor 57 until the steadier rolls circumferentially engage the mandrel rod. As shown in FIGURE 3 and at'steadier 21 in FIGURE 1, racks 54 may be retracted until the steadier rolls open, either to permit a stripped shell to be ejected or to permit an advancing shell to pass. The steadier rolls are usually opened fully, although an operator may easily control the operation of a motor 57 to open the steadier rolls as required,i.e., less to pass a shell and more to eject it. It is also possible, as with a mandrel bar, to advance racks 54 until the steadier rolls circumferentially engage a-shell. Since ashell is usually hot, however, and close engagement thereof may produce marks thereon, it is usually preferred to guide the shell only, by circumferentially approximating contact between guide rolls and shell. As shown in FIGURE 4 and in steadier 22 in FIG- URE 1, racks 54 may be advanced until the steadier rolls radially approach, but do nottouch, a concentric shell.

Means to this end are shown in FIGURES 6 and 7. They comprise a double-acting hydraulic motor 60 mounted longitudinally on frame 35 between vertical members 38, 39. This motor may be operated and controlled manually or automatically by conventional'means, not shown. Pistons 61, reciprocable by motor 60, engage members 62. Spacer means or gauge blocks 63 are keyed to members 62. As shown in FIGURE 6 when gage blocks 63 are retracted, racks 54 may be advanced without any interference therewith until the guide rolls encompass the mandrel bar or the shell, should-this be preferred. FIG- URE 7 shows how, when spacer blocks 63 are advanced, racks 54, when also advanced, move thereagainst, thereby restricting the movement of the guide rolls toward the described path. Hence, the guide rolls do not engage a concentric shell but are adapted to guide it during its movement from the piercing mill. The gage blocks-63 may be changed quickly when the outside diameter of a pierced shell is to be changed.

Should it be preferred to guide rather than to engage a mandrel bar by means of the guide rolls, I employ the arrangement of FIGURE 8 which shows a second gage block 63a keyed to member 62, adjacent gage block 63. Then when pistons 61 are in retracted position and racks 54 are advanced, the racks move against the second gage blocks 63a, thereby restricting the inward movement of the guide rolls, as required. The gage blocks 63 and 63a are shown in chain lines when pistons 61 are in an advanced position.

Appropriate cover plates may be removably attached, as required, on frame 35. For example, plates '64 may cover hydraulic motors 57, plates 65 may enclose pinions 47, 48 and adjacent structure, plates 66 may enclose pinions 49 and adjacent structure and plates 67 may cover gage blocks 63 and adjacent structure. Frame 35 and its supporting means are sufficiently open in construction to. permit the mill scale and other debris, for example from shells 15, to fall freely and to collect in the space procided between pedestals 30, 31 for easy removal therefrom, for example, by water flushing.

The invention as disclosed herein is well adapted for operation under automatic control of any desired type. In order to make clear the sequence of operations, however, manual control will be assumed although it will not ordinarily be used in practice.

In the operation of a mill equipped with my steadiers, under manual control, for the purpose of explanation only, the operator, preferably stationed in a position where he can note the progress of a shell, observes its advance along mandrel bar 14. Just before the advancing end of shell 15 reaches steadier 22, the operator causes the steadier rolls to be retracted by retracting hydraulic motor 57. When the advancing end of shell 15 passes by steadier 22, the operator advances'hydraulic motor 60,'thereby advancing gage blocks 63, and thereafter closes the steadier rolls by advancing hydraulic motor 57, thereby advancing racks 54 against gage blocks 63. The guide rolls now guide the shell in steadier 22. In like manner, the operator repeats the-above-described operations with respect to steadiers 21 a'nd20. Thus, prior to and for a period after the engagement of billet 12 with mandrel bar 14, the bar is steadied at three spaced points along its length by steadiers 20, 21 and 22. Thereafter, as described, support is provided until the piercingoperation is completed by successively changing from steadying the mandrel bar to guiding the shell or tube.

After the piercing has been completed, the guide rolls are retractedby retracting motor 57, latch 19 is withdrawn and carriage '16 is retracted, withdrawing bar 14 from shell 15 and causing mandrel 13 to drop off the end of bar 14. With bar 14 retracted, shell 15 may be supported on a plurality-of roller conveyors 23 won kickout arms 25 until motor 27 is operated'to rotate shaft 26 and arms 25 and'thereby to eject the shell to an adjacent cooling bed or the like, not shown. Thereafter, the operator ad-' vance carriage 16'and mandrel bar 14. A fresh mandrel 13 is placed on the-end of bar 14 and the bar is advanced to its piercing position between rolls 10, 11. Latch 19 locks the carriage16 against bridge 18; the guide rolls encompass mandrel bar 14 by advancing motors 57; and, after the next billet "12 is entered between rotating rolls 10, 11, the above-described operation is repeated.

The described steadying apparatus-embodies relatively simple structures which are'low in maintenance costs.

The apparatus provides a maximum of positive steadying and guiding support for both bar and pierced shell. Also, because of'theuse of machined spacer blocks 63, complicated size-change means are eliminated. Replace ment of any unit of a steadier may be accomplished with ease; Obviously, more than three steadiers may'bealigned at a mill outlet. Any steadier not in use may be locked in open position .without interfering with the normal function of the other units. The steadying apparatus may be used in the reeling, rotary-rolling, elongating and high-mill operations associated with the seamless pipe production process.

Although I have disclosed herein the preferred apparatus and operation of my invention, I intend to cover as well any change or modification therein which may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. A steadier for a seamless-tube mill having a man drel bar adapted to support tube shells as they move in an axial path, comprising a frame, a rack mounted on said frame and means guiding reciprocating movement thereof transversely of said path, first and second shafts journaled in said frame essentially parallel to and equally spaced respectively from and on either side of said path, a third shaft journaled in said frame essentially parallel to and equally spaced on the same side of said path as said first shaft, first and second pinions secured respectively to said first and second shafts and meshing with said rack, a third pinion secured to said third shaft and meshing with said first pinion, a pair of spaced rocker arms secured at one end to each of said shafts, a guide roll journaled in the opposite ends of each of said pairs of arms parallel to each shaft, whereby when said rack is reciprocated said arms turn to move said rolls equiangularly in unison toward and away from said path, the rolls of the rocker arms on the first and third shafts moving in opposite angular directions.

2. A steadier as defined in claim 1 characterized by said third shaft being spaced directly above Said first shaft.

3. A steadier as defined in claim 1 characterized by a hydraulic cylinder mounted on said frame, spaced from and parallel to said path, first and second gage blocks mounted on the rod of said cylinder, movable respectively into the path of said rack whereby said gage blocks alternately limit movement of said rack to one of two extreme positions, thereby restricting the movement of said guide rolls toward said path to two predetermined positions.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,187,575 6/1916 Ward 72121 2,459,068 1/ 1949 Eastwood 82101 2,896,490 7/1959 Van Zelewsky 82-14 3,101,015 8/1963 Schuetz 72--120 3,107,564 10/1963 Coker et a1 82-101 3,258,950 7/1966 Durr 72-370 A, DOST, Primary Examiner, 

1. A STEADIER FOR A SEAMLESS-TUBE MILL HAVING A MANDREL BAR ADAPTED TO SUPPORT TUBE SHELLS AS THEY MOVE IN AN AXIAL PATH, COMPRISING A FRAME, A RACK MOUNTED ON SAID FRAME AND MEANS GUIDING RECIPROCATING MOVEMENT THEREOF TRANSVERSELY OF SAID PATH, FIRST AND SECOND SHAFTS JOURNALED IN SAID FRAME ESSENTIALLY PARALLEL TO AND EQUALLY SPACED RESPECTIVELY FROM AND ON EITHER SIDE OF SAID PATH, A THIRD SHAFT JOURNALED IN SAID FRAME ESSENTIALLY PARALLEL TO AND EQUALLY SPACED ON THE SAME SIDE OF SAID PATH AS SAID FIRST SHAFT, FIRST AND SECOND PINIONS SECURED RESPECTIVELY TO SAID FIRST AND SECOND SHAFTS AND MESHING WITH SAID RACK, A THIRD PINION SECURED TO SAID THIRD SHAFT AND MESHING WITH SAID FIRST PINION, A PAIR OF SPACED ROCKER ARMS SECURED AT ONE END TO EACH OF SAID SHAFTS, A GUIDE ROLL JOURNALED IN THE OPPOSITE ENDS OF EACH OF SAID PAIRS OF ARMS PARALLEL TO EACH SHAFT, WHEREBY WHEN SAID RACK IS RECIPROCATED SAID ARMS TURN TO MOVE SAID ROLLS EQUIANGULARLY IN UNISON TOWARD AND AWAY FROM SAID PATH, THE ROLLS OF THE ROCKER ARMS ON THE FIRST AND THIRD SHAFTS MOVING IN OPPOSITE ANGULAR DIRECTIONS. 